* Survival: Bread is a basic necessity for the crew of the Seahawk. It represents their most basic need for sustenance and their struggle to survive the harsh conditions at sea.
* Social Hierarchy: The quality and quantity of bread consumed reflects the social hierarchy onboard the ship. The captain and officers enjoy white bread, while the sailors are given coarser, darker bread, highlighting the difference in their living conditions.
* Justice and Fairness: The act of Captain Jaggery refusing to share the white bread with Zachariah, a sailor who is unjustly accused of mutiny, signifies the captain's lack of fairness and his manipulation of the crew.
* Loss of Innocence: Charlotte's initial enjoyment of bread is symbolic of her childhood innocence. As the story progresses and she becomes more aware of the ship's harsh realities, her appetite for bread diminishes, mirroring her growing awareness of the injustices and suffering around her.
Therefore, bread in *The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle* goes beyond being just a food item. It acts as a powerful metaphor that reflects the themes of social hierarchy, justice, and the loss of innocence.